Talk about a conversation piece with a secret life. This rare Victorian-era (circa 1883) 14K rose gold hinged double-sided watch fob / locket is the kind of collectible that stops people mid-sentence—then makes them lean in closer.
One side features a hard-stone cameo carved from two-tone agate, depicting the bust of a Roman centurion with crisp antique-style profile detail. Flip it over and you’ll find a sleek, rectangular gold quartz panel. Both stones are bezel set with a charming castellated (“castled”) edge, giving it that perfectly Victorian mix of romance and precision.
Here’s the part collectors love: the two sides hinge open to reveal two gold frames, each holding a folded period stamp—a 5-cent stamp from 1882 and a 2-cent stamp from 1883. Pieces like this were sometimes carried as practical little backups—possibly even used as emergency currency—but today they read like a tiny time capsule you can wear.
It hangs from a pivoting bail topped with a classic scroll motif, making it a natural fit on a pocket watch chain—and just as fabulous as a locket pendant, ready to hold your own small keepsakes and stories.
Details
Type: Hinged double-sided watch fob / locket (wearable as pendant)
Era: Victorian, circa 1883
Metal: 14K rose gold
Front: Two-tone agate hard-stone cameo, Roman centurion bust
Reverse: Rectangular gold quartz panel
Settings: Bezel set with castellated (“castled”) edge
Interior: Two gold frames holding folded period stamps
5¢ stamp (1882)
2¢ stamp (1883)
Bail: Pivoting bail with scroll motif
Measurements: 27.32 × 20.31 mm (as provided)
Gross weight: 13.7 dwt